The Masches will perform two original songs, Freeway and Turned Out, at The Espy as part of SongMakers LIVE this weekend.
APRA AMCOS’ SongMakers program connects high school musicians with established songwriters and producers. Through professional mentoring and hands-on recording opportunities, SongMakers is dedicated to fostering a new generation of songwriters.
More than 1000 Victorian high school students have participated in a SongMakers program in the last two years. Along with encouraging young musicians to develop their own material, the program introduces students to various facets of the contemporary music industry, familiarising them with co-writing sessions, professional rehearsal rooms and the ins and outs of live performance.
SongMakers LIVE 2025
- The Espy
- Sunday 23 November 2025
- Tickets here
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A prime example of the program’s professional development goals is SongMakers LIVE, a full day of live music at The Espy on Sunday November 23. There are 16 acts on the lineup, plus a guest appearance from ARIA-nominated singer-songwriter Mia Wray.
One of those 16 acts is The Masches, an indie rock band from Albert Park College. The band formed at the start of 2025 after its five members responded to a call-out from the school’s music program. “We all just auditioned to be in a band and then it all got put together,” says Lillian, one of The Masches’ two guitarists.
Like Lillian, the majority of The Masches are in year 11. “Except for our drummer, Stella,” Lillian says. “She’s in year 9.”
The Masches started out playing covers, and since the very early days, they’ve been heavily influenced by local artists.
“One of the first songs we actually played was Not Enough by Mia Wray. So, that’s really nice considering she’s headlining the gig this Sunday,” Lillian says. “We did Big Shot by Chitra, another Australian artist, as well as a song by Merpire.”
Every artist on the lineup for SongMakers LIVE will be performing two songs, one of which originated in a SongMakers workshop. For The Masches, that song is titled Freeway, which the band’s lead vocalist, Mischa, started working on at SongMakers in 2024.
“We’ve definitely changed the instrumental,” says Lillian. “Mischa’s definitely kept her vocals. But we’ve just changed the guitars and bass and drums.”
It was only very recently that The Masches decided to have a go at writing their own music. After adapting Freeway, they collaborated on their latest original, Turned Out.
“It started from Mischa. She had a little guitar riff that she liked the sound of. It was super simple. Like, it was done on acoustic,” Lillian says. “And then it went from us just naming things around the room to write about. And then I put a little bit more influence into the riff by doing it on electric guitar and adding a bit more distortion. And then it kind of changed entirely from there.”
The band’s five members all bring different influences to creative process, which Lillian sees as an asset.
“Me and the bassist, Oexia, we’re both really into metal music,” she says. “And then Jesse, the other guitarist, and Mischa, the singer, are more into chill stuff. I know Jesse likes Radiohead, and Mischa, I know Fontaines D.C. is a bit punk, but she definitely likes them. Our drummer Stella’s more into classical stuff.”
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To prepare for SongMakers LIVE at The Espy, the participants were all given the opportunity to rehearse at Bakehouse Studios. “It was amazing,” Lillian says of last weekend’s Bakehouse rehearsal day. “It’s definitely one of the best venues to practice in. It was so nice, and all the bands were so amazing. Like, I was just astounded listening to the rehearsal.”
Lillian was already familiar with alt-rockers Distasteful Microwaves, another Albert Park College band, but everyone else on the lineup was a new discovery for her. “I had no idea about any of the other bands,” she says, “and it was such a nice surprise hearing them.”
The Espy gig will be The Masches’ most significant performance to date. Off the back of the SongMakers experience, Lillian and her bandmates are feeling enthusiastic about making more music together.
“I loved writing songs with them, and I love my band,” Lillian says. “So it’s definitely nice just to keep that connection going.”
Grab tickets here.
